Die for bolt-making or similar machines



Oct.- 25 1927. 1,646,425

F. J. SIMPSON DIE FOR BOLT MAKING OR SIMIBAR MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 1923' 2 Sheets-Sheet .0 5:2 2? 3/ firm/0r fl/ Ski 0am 6/ Oct. 25 1927. 7' 1,646,425 F. J. SIMPSON I DIE FOR BOLT MAKING 0R SIMILAR MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 25, 1927, j

UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FIREDRIGK JAMES si rsoN, or MONTREAL, QUEBEC, oANADA, AssieNon To THOMAS P. SI-IELLY, or MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

' DIE FOR BOLT-MAKING OR SIMILAR MACHINES.-

,Application filed. August 3, 1923. Serial No. 655,440.-

i. manufacture of bolts, rivets and the like either hot'or cold by the upsetting method, and relates more particularly to. a process of and apparatus for making such articles.

A 7 One of the objects of the invent-ion is. to provide for the upsetting of the metal in such a manner thatvthe articles will be sub- .stantially perfectly formed in the upsetting, the production of fine or other blemishesbeing avoided, also the necessity of subsequent,

trimming, sizing orshaping operations.

A further object is to provide for the making in. a single operation of articleswhich are now ordinarily made intwo or more op erations, thereby increasing the rate of production or simplifying the manufacture or both, as compared with existing practice, without, however, confining the invention to single operation methods. v

A still further object is to provide for an increase in, the rate of production as compared with existing conditions, additional to the increase arising from the reduction in ;the number of operations. 7

Another object is to provide for the manufacture of articles as aforesaid, using existing machinery, by the provision of special dies or other apparatus. I

Another object is the provision of dies embodying relatively adjustable andrenewable parts, whereby changes in the dimensions or shape of the product may be effected by adjusting parts of the die or substituting other parts, without changing the whole die. l

Another object is to provide for certain andpositive ejection of the finished articles from the forming die, whereby damage tovor interruption of the operation of the machine may be avoided. I

Still another object is to provide adie yieldingly mounted to guard against breakage of the die or machine in the event of an unforeseen obstruction in the path of movement of the die.

Va ious'ot-hei' objects and advantages may v be ascertained from the following description and drawings, which, for convenience of explanation, have relation to the manufac ture of bolts, but to which particulzn' article of manufacture the invention is not limited.

Upsetting machinery of theelassto which thisvinvention has relation comprises, generally speaking, gripping dies to hold material to be upset anda head or ram movable toward andaway from the gripping dies to carry upsetting or headingdies into and out of engagement with the material. The heading die or dies generally used on these machines are, for .the most part, solid dies formed with a recess of the exactsize and shape of the head to be formed, so that if it is desired to produce any variations in the .bolt heads it is necessary to provide a fresh die for each variation, even if such variation is only in the thickness of the head. When making bolts of larger size or bolts in which the head is larger than usual relatively to the body of the bolt it is usually necessary to form the head in two or more operations owmgto the impracticability of causing the metal to flow in the manner necessary to form the head in a single upsetting operation. This is especially true of bolts with relatively large heads and is due to the fact that the relatively large amount of metal projected beyond the gripping dies and unsupportedhas a tendency to double up rather than to expand in diameter in the first part ofthe upsetting operation, with the result i that imperfectly formedheads are produced.

When performing the upsetting in either one or moreop'erations the formation of fins orflash at the under-surface of bolt heads seems inevitable and is now found to be due to the factthat the metal expands or swells during the first part of the upsetting in the space between ,the relatively appoaching gripping; and heading dies to a greater sizeithan the recess in theheading die. The metal which projects beyond the recess of the heading die is eventually caught betweenthe faces of the heading die and the gripping die and squeezed out to form the fin or i flash. Theforegoing conditions have the effect-oflimiting the speed at which the heading die may be moved, the'tendency to malformed head's increasing asthe speed of op era-tion increases,

. According to the present invention the into the objectionable flash. The metal flows least readily adjacent the gripping dies and unless an excess of metalis provided it will not flow into] anyminutecrevice that may exist between the headingand gripping dies. The result is a complete absence of flash on the underside of the head. This appliesequallyto upsetting performed in one or more than one operation. In addition to preventing the formation of flash on the heads, thecomplete enclosure of the metal {from the very commencement :of the upsetting serves to support that part of the metal which in the old method is unsupported between the gripping and heading dies. The

bending ofthe metal is thus limited to only a slight deflection which is not detrimental i V c In one embodiment of the invention, the he adingdie is constructed of relatively movable parts which unite to define a collapsible recess for reception of the metal tobe upset, whichrecess is collapsed or reduced in size by relative movement of the parts. When the die is empty the stool; receiving and heading recessthereof is almost entirely occupied by the heading plunger which advances with thedie to engage the end of a stock bar projecting from gripping dies.

Movement of the plunger is checked by its engagement with the stock but-the die continues to advance until its movement is arrested by contact with the gripping dies. The projecting end of the stock bar is thus completely enclosed before 1 any substantial upsetting occurs. After movement of the die stops the plunger advances through the die to perform theupsetting operation.

During the retreat of the die the plunger advancesto itsoriginal position relative to r the die and ejects the finished bolt from the 55 i die, Means is provided for yieldably sup porting the die in the reciprocating head of the machine so that in the event of any unforeseen obstruction between. the heading and gripping diesthe heading die may yield to, avoid damage to itself or the machine In the accompanying drawings various embodiments of the invention have: been ticular embodiments but embraces allother as shown.

buckling when under compression.

embodiments by means of which the invention may be carried into practice, as well as minor modifications ofthe embodiments. herein illustrated and descrlbed.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to 1 Figure 1 showing the die in the advanced position occupied at the'completion of the formation of a bolt head.

Fig. 4 is a view similar as, Figure 1, illustrating certain modifications.

Fig. 5 is a face view ofthe die.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and especiallyto Figures 1, Qand 3 thereof, 11 designates a die carrier adapted for insertion in the reciprocating head of a bolt making or other suitable machine. A die holder 12is provided carrying a die 13 which-,is preferably an integral plug of metal havinga recess 14 therein shaped according to the product desired. provided with a passage 15dleading from the bottom of the recess 14 through tothe back'of the die and adaptedto slidably receive an upsetting plunger 16. The diameter of the passage 15 and of the plungerlti must be at least as great as the diameter of the stock bar to be upset but may be greater, The die is seated in the holder 12 in any suitable way and held in position on its seat by means of a ring 17 secured to the eration oft-he device,with the result that the cushion rlng may be properly and is herein consideredas part ofthe carrier. The die holder'isyieldingly mounted on thecarri-er by means of springs 21 positioned preferably This die is by seating the ends thereon in recesses 22in the holder and cushion ring. Guide pins 23 may be provided to hold the springs against The forward movement of the die holder under infiuence of the springs21may be limited in any suitable way; for example, by n'ieansof headed screws 24 connected to the cushion ring and slidably engaged with theholder. In order to keep the diameter of the holder as small'as possible,the springs 21 are preterably individually of small size and the desired stiffness of mounting is obtained "by-employing a considerable number of such springs. If additional stlfinessin themounting is required it may be obtained, it space permits, by the provision of additional springs 25 seated in recesses 26 in the die and carrier. 5

The upsetting plunger 16 is removably mounted in a holder 27 slidably mounted in the carrier. One convenient method of etfectingthis mounting is to provide a head 28 it the rear end of the plunger and an annua1 nut 29 to ,overliethe head and to be screwed to the forwardend of the holder. The plunger holder is yieldably mounted 1n the carrier by means'of a spr1-ng'30 in compression between the holder and a plug 31 screwed or otherwise a'djustably secured in i the carrier. This plug serves also as a seat to limit rearward movement of the plunger and its holder in the carrier and is of sufficientstrength to sustain the load incident to the upsetting operation. The sprin '30 as illustrated is mounted within the hol er and supported against buckling by a pm 32 on the plug, but it will be understood that this particular disposition of the spring may be departed from.

To protect the springs 19 and 21 from damage; to prevent an obstruction COIIIIIIg between the spring supported bodies, and to impart a neat appearance to the device,

sleeves 33 may be provided on' the cushion member slidablly en aging the die holder'and on the carrier slidaly engaging the cushion rm r v (gripping dies to hold a stock bar to be upset are designated 34, and the progectmg portion of the stock bar suillcient for upset-- ting or heading is designated 35.

. A modification of the method of mounting the plunger is illustrated in Figure The plunger holder is inetlect integral with the adjacent plug andfthe plunger 1s movable 111 the holder. The holder proper, designated 27, is provided at the rear with a threaded portion 31 screwing into the =Cd11181... The

"plunger nut .29 is increased in length to prowide for travel of the plunger head therein and the plunger spring 30* is in compression between the plunger head and a plug 36 screwed or otherwise adjustably secured in the rear end of the holder.

The normal or idle position of the parts is illustrated in Figures 1 and 4; that is to say, the die and its holder are advanced beyond the carrier by the action oat the springs 21 and to the limit of movement determined by the setting of the screws 24 and the plunger is advanced untilits end is substantially' flush with the face: of the die, .so-that it occupies the central part of the heading recess 14. In theiconstruction shown in. Figure 1 forward movementyof "the plunger is limited 'by engagement of its holder with the end of the stock bar and advance of the plunger is thereby stopped but the re-' mainderl of the device advances and f the plunger is relatively retreated through the die and into the carrier. This movement continues unti-lthe back end ofthe plunger I holder come incontact with the plug 31'; When the parts are properly adjusted :the face of the heading 'die engages the gripping relative retreat of the-plunger is checked. The spring behind the plunger, is, corn paratively speaking, weak, with the resultthat its compression by the relative retreat, of the plunger does not apply :suflicient pressure to the plunger to cause any appreciable or substantial upsetting act-ion even ifgthe stock bar is very hot and quite soft.- The position ofthe parts is illustrated in Figure 2 and it will be seen that the. stock bar-tobe 1 pset is nowcom-pletely enclosed in the heading die. 1

er and carrier advance relatively tothe heading die, the springs 21 and 25*:being compressed. The Icu'shion springs 19 behind the As the carrier ll'continiues to advance it drives the plunger forwardly through the now stationary heading die to upset the advance the endoi' the plunger 16 engages cushion ring arefso much heavier than't'he" springs 21- and '25 that they do not yield appreciably during compression of the-lighter springs Position of :the parts at the completlon vof the heading operation is'illus tratedin Figure'3. Y

he machine head now retreats the whole" ,device and the parts assume their original relation by "the action of. their respective springs. In. assuming its original position the plunger eyects the product from the heading die, this being facilitated where the nature of the product permits by a slight fiaringozt' the side Walls of the die recess, which flaring "is illustrated to an exaggerated degree.

If any obstruct-ion should occur between the gripping dies and heading die, the head ing die'will retreat and if the space between .t-he'di-e holderandwcushion ring is not sufii- :cieu't tocompensate for the thickness of the obstruction the cushion ring will then retreat with the die holder. In this way breakage 85 dies at substantially the same instant that oftheidevice or of themaehine will be large ly or-wholly prevented. a m' a T- 1 -r u When a different size or shape of head is to be made, the die 13 and plunger 16 are exchanged for correspondingparts of the ofthe plunger springinay be adj uste'dwithe out changing the plunger; It has previously beenstated that'the plunger may be of any suitable size and this must be held to'inelude a plunger 'ofthe' full dimensions and shape ofthe'heading' recess asshown, for example, in Patent No. "1,111,729, September 29,1914. Suchan arrangement Wlll hLU G an advantage over the:- forin of "die illustrated, in that thickness of the heads formedmay be regulated merely by adjustment of the plunger.

Inits 'broad aspect the invention relates to therelative movement ofthe plunger and heading die and it 1 must be understoodthat the invention is not confined for the effecting of these movements to the particular means disclosed," but contemplates employment of any suitable means to eif'ect the desired relartivemovementw I i In addition to the advantagesof superior head formation pointed out in the preceding description it is tobenoted that theuse of this process: and die {which positively prevents-the formation of fins or flashes on bolt iheads, thereby eliminates the trimming operation, and by reason of the fact that the headsmay be made-very accurately tosize,

it becomes unnecessary even to subsequently size the heads. iThis' featuregreatly reduces the cost of manufacturing bolts and the like and has the additional advantage of- 'avoiding the rough knife-edges WhiclreXist-where bolt heads aresized or trimmedto' remove the flash. The ;-support-afforded to the stock barduring the upsetting process enables the speed of operation to be' increased, andin many instances Whereithas been customary oinnecessaryitoimakethehead in two operations, employmentofzthe present process and apparatus'will enablesuchvheads to bemade in a single operationh It mustnot be concluded, howeverfithat this invention is con fined to heading dies, as it "is applicable equally Well. to the preliminary forming dies in 1 cases Where it; is necessary to make the heads in two or more operations.

,Whi-l'e only the manufacture of bolts has been dealt with in the foregoing: description, ittwisll be underst'oodnthat the invention is not thus limited, but is applicable equallyto the forinationof rivets and any other articles capable: of being formed in the same or a egalize Generally ;throughout a the description the heading device has been described -as-;ad-. vanci-ngto the gripping v dies 5 and material; but an to. be, understood a that this is not absolutely essential, as; the heading device may be. stationary andthe gripping dies and stock advanced into engagement therewitln Atpeenliaritywof thisidevice, WhichfIlat;

tribute to the use fof; a plunger of greater? diameter. than the stock ban,androf almostas great diameter asthehead'toibe formed; is itha't the head appears 'to :crown perfectly: with; little or'no contact with the bottom of the heading recesslrly This ':enables the headinghrecess tdbedormed slightly larger in volume than ,thembolt lhead toobe-i'made and therefore slightly larger inivolume than theproper amount of. stocli bar. fed fi-on'rthe gripping dies. This is a verysvaluable rfem ture as it protects the dieaagainst' damage due to excessive-feeding of t-he'stockbar and alsoprotects theibolt headspagainst mallormation'from the same eausewlfthe stock bar is overfed toa small fextentgias-i often happens, theonly resulttis a slightlythicker head crowned by'intimate contact With the bottom of the recess 14;. T Iaving thusdescril'ied my invention what I claim-isiz ri F i 1s Informing. machinery for bolts and the like, in combination with gripping dies to hold material against retreat "during a forming operatioin aw-forn'iing dieya carrier to advance the: forming die into contact with the gripping 'dies to enclose imaterial prior tofoimingand an upsetting plunger in the forming die connected to said-carrier and adzipted to remainstationary' upon contact With-"material until the materialiis enclosed in the formingidie and a stop adjustable -in the carrier behind "the plunger-whereby the plunger is subsequently ajdvanced'by the ca-ririei relatively to-the forming 'die to upset material therein. i 2. In forming;machinery; for bolts and the like adiefhaving a formingrecessya n upsetting plunger slidabilein'sai d diefa 'reciproeatable c'ariaer common to saiddie and plunger to siiinilta neouslyadvance the die and ipl-unger to' the material? to be formed and to successively advance the die, and plunger each While the other is stationary to firstxenclose the material and subsequently u'psetthe enclosed material. r

:In formingmachinery forbolts and'tlie like; adleihavlng a:foamingvrepssthertsm,

through an upsetting plunger-vslidable in the die, and a reciprocatable carrier commonto said die and plunger to advance the die and plunger simultaneously until engagement of the phuige-r and material occurs, and to then ad- Vance the die alone to enclose the material and to linally advance the plunger alone to upset material enclosed in the die. 1

4:. In forming machinery for bolts and the like, the combination with gripping dies to hold material against retreat during torm ing, of a die having a forming recess, an upsetting plunger slidable in said t'ori'ning die, means to advance the forming die and plunger smultaneously to the material until engagement of material and plunger occurs and to then advance the forming die alone into engagement with the gripping dies to enclose the material and to finally advance the plunger alone to upset material enclosed in the forming die and resilient means to restore the carrier, die and plunger to their original relations upon retreat of the carrier. c

5. In forming machinery for bolts and the like, a reciprocatable' carrier, a plunger and a forming die mounted on the carrier for movement thereby, independent yield-able connections between the carrier and plunger and between the carrier and die perm tting cessation of plunger and die advance during continuous carrier advance, said plunger and carrier being adapted for direct engagement to positively advance the plunger relatively to the die.

6. In forming machinery for bolts and the like, a recipro-catable carrier, a plunger and a die mounted thereon, the plunger being slidable in the die, yieldable connection between the carrier and plunger permitting relative retreat of the plunger into the die to give place to materlal to be formed and yieldable connection between the carrier and die to permit relative advance of the plunger in the die to upset material in the die.

7. In forming machinery for bolts and the like, a forming die, a plunger movable thecdie to upset material therein, a plunger carrier and yieldable connection between the plunger and carrier to be compressed prior to upsetting and to expand after upsetting and advance the plunger through the die to eject formed material therefrom.

8. In forming machinery for bolts and the like, a carrier, a forming die yieldably mounted thereon for limited movement relatively to the carrier and a normally rigid cushioning means between the die and carrier adapted to yield and permit increased relative movement of the die andv carrier in case of an obstruction in the path of the die;

9. In forming machinery for bolts and the like, a carrier, a die holder, springs between the carrier and holder, a die in the holder, a plunger slidable in the carrier and through the die, a spring between the plunger and carrier, and-means to limit movement of the holder, and plunger due to actionfiot" 10. fIn forming machinery for 'boltsfand the like, a carrier, a die holder, springs'betweenthe carrier and holder,',a die in'the holder, a plunger slidable in'the carrier and through the die, a'sp'ring between the. plungier and carrier," and an adjustable seatin the carrier forsaid plunger v p 11. In forming machinery for bolts and the. like, a'carrier, a die holder, springs between the carrier' and holder, a die in the holder, a plunger slidablein the carrier and through the die, a spring between the plunger and carrier and adjustable means to regulatethe amplitude of movement of the plunger relative to the carrier.

12. In forming machinery for bolts and the like, a carrier, a cushion ring slidable thereon, springs between the carrier and cushion ring urgingthe ring forwardly on the carrier, a die, and springs between the die and cushion ring urging the die forwardly of the carrier, said die springs being less resistant to compression than the cushion springs.

13. In forming machinery for bolts and the like, a carrier, a die holder thereon, a die removably mounted in said holder, a plunger holder mounted in, the carrier for movement thereby and a plunger removably v mountedin the holder and slidable in the die. v V

1 l. In forming machinery for bolts and the like, a carrier, acushion ring and a die independently reciprocatable on the carrier,

springs between the ring and carrier and between the die and ring, and sleeves on the carrier and ring enclosing said spring and slidably receivingthe ring and die, respectively. g i

15. In forming machinery for bolts and the like, the combination with gripping dies to hold material against retreat during forming, of a forming die movable into a position of rest against the gripping dies to enclose material prior to upsetting, a plunger relatively slidable in the die and movable with the die to a position of rest against the 7 material during the first part of the die movement and subsequently movable inde-f pendently of-the die to upset material there- 1n, and means to move said die and plunger intermittently in themanner aforesaid.

16. In forming machinery for bolts and the like, the combination with gripping dies to hold material against retreatduring forming, a forming die and a'plunger relatively slidable therein, and means to move the plunger to a position of rest against the material and to subsequently move the. die to a position of rest against the gripping against the materiel and fio s ubsequentlj Ineve the die to the gripping dies position of rest against and to finally moverthe plunger to upset 'lnaterial inthe die,,and means independent of the carrier to further advance the plunger relatively to the dieand upon retreat thereof from the gripping dies to eject formed material from the forming die.

y h n Inw ifness Wheree fQI have hefeunto set FREDBICK JAMES SIMPSON. 

